Vacuum distillation process



t? that Patented. Aug.

signor, by mesnc assignments, to Distillation Products, Inc., Rochester',` N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application Selltclnlcl'-5,l 1936, 'Serial No. 99,631 'Y In Great Britain July 6,A 1936 s claims. `(ci. zesrm- This invention relates to improvements in processes of high vacuum. and, particularly, molecular distillation of mixtures containing substances having antirachitic activity such as 4l'i ilsh oils.

In my U. S. Patent 1,925,559 I have described a process. of molecular distillation of animal and vegetable oils to obtain concentrated fat soluble vitamin distillates. This-proeess'made possible l the 4preparation oi superior vitamin concentrates in a purer form and at a considerably smaller expense than was possible with other-types of purification processes. I have further investi-f gated the purication of vitamins by this method and have found that .while vitamins A and E were obtained from appropriate oils as distillates in amounts corresponding to the quantity present in the source material, considerable proportions `ofvitamin D or antirachitic material were 20 lost during the distillation of oils containing this particular vitamin. It was furtherV found that the loss of this potent substance was due to thermal decomposition and to a lesser extent to oxidation.

vThis-invention for its object to provide a processor high vacuum, molecular or pseudo molecular distillation which enables improved recovery of substances having antlrachitic activity from mixtures containing them. Another object is to prevent thermal decomposition and/or oxidation of substances having' autiracnitic activityduring nigh vacuum: distillation. Another object is to provide an improved process of molecular distillation ofnsh oils -by which 3.1 antirachitic substances can be substantially purified without. important loss. A further ob- .lect is to provide new therapeutic agents having substantial antirachitic activity. Other obobjects will appear herdnaftcr. m' These objectsare accomplished bythe henein described invention which, in its preferred embodiment, comprises heating the substance to be distilled for only a short period oftime andV preferably while it is in such a physical state rapid vaporization of vitamin can take To further prevent destruction complete degassingoftheoiLmordertoremover-eactive gases and oxidizingY agents, is desirable.

the following examples and description I so have set forth several of the preferred embodiments of my invention. but it is tobeuuderstood thattheyareincludedforthemofillustration and not ss a In carrying out'thc 'malinconia ca fish oils. containing vitamin D itwas fotmd lthat tinted' the above facts. AI1: was

the antirachitic factor was obtained as a distillate at between 130? and 180 C., the main por'- tion distilling in maximum amounts at about l C. Neighboring fractions contained small amounts of the. same material, but'all other 5 fractions were devoid of the substance. Biological analysis of the undistilled residue and of all fractions, indicated that a considerable proportion of the antirachitically active material had been lost. Repeated distillations substanl0` y assumed that the potent-material had been lost due to thermal decomposition, and I therefore' designed apparatus which would enable a high rate of distillation with a much shorter heating period. Analysis of fractions produced in this manner resulted in the discovery that while the antirachitic potency of the 180 C. fractions had increased somewhat. a new antirachitic compound was being obtained in large` amounts at a tempera- 20 ture between 190'and 260 C., the main portion.

vdistilling in maximum amounts at 205'240 C.

It is" not definitely known 'what caused the destruction of this new compoundin all distillationproceases heretofore carried out, but the 2l above facts strongly indicate that it was dueto ineiiicient vaporizaticn requiring such a long heating period that the substance could not sui-` v' vive the treatment.

Calciferol is Aknown to be completely decom- -80 to an inactive substance by heating to Since the high-boiling antirachitic substance probably has a somewhat similar structure, itis not surprising that it should `be decomposed by heating for too long a period at a '35 similar high temperature.

` Distillation under high vacuum and especially molecular distillation is different from other types of distillation in that boiling does not take placer evaporation occurring only from the sur- 4. face of the material distilled. Unless the evaporative surface is rapidly .renewed `the surface quickly becomes depleted and` vaporization ceases funtil new molecules arrive at the surface, which' action takes place slowly. To improve the rate ofl distillation thematerial has been caused t0 flow in a by gravity down the surface of a heated column. However the turbulence caused by the slow rate of iiow is insumeient to'cause rapid renewal of the vaporising surface-and for so this reason thermal destruction of the new antirachitic substance took place as well as' destruction of the lower distilling vitamin D material. I have found for instance that when Athe oil to be distilled is thoroughly degassedthst'the Il new antirachitic substance has a half life of less than about 2 minutes at above 220 C. and less than 1 minute at 240 C. To distill without substantial decomposition it is therefore ldesirable not to-employ a heating period of over 30 seconds yatz220 C. or lseconds at above 240 C., although the longer periods named above can be used with temperatures in the lower range such as l85200 without decomposition or at the higher temperatures if partial decomposition is to be tolerated. Prior known vacuum distillation processes would not enable evaporization to take place in such a short period of time.

In order to avoid decomposition of antirachitically active substances during high vacuum distillation I therefore subject the crude animal oil such as a flsh oil to short period distillation while it is in such a condition that rapid vaporization takes place. This result can be aected by the apparatus hereinafter described in which the oil is rapidly conveyed through the still in a thin illm or sheet or is subjected to distillation temperature while the evaporating surface is rapidly renewed or isv in a condition such that rapid and emcient vaporisation can take place.

In order to further protect against destruey tion of both forms of antirachitic substance and especially the new higher distilling variety I `have found that it is desirable, although not necessary, to subject the oil to a thorough deoils acts to protect both forms of vitamin D by absorbing oxygen, and it is present in such quantities that little oxygeir is leftl to destroy the vitamin D. The vitamin A combines with oxygen in two stages, first forming peroxides or unstable addition products, and after a lapse of time or a rise oftemperature these materials react to form true oxidation products. Where the true oxidationproducts are formed suddenly as a result of rise in temperature, the oxygen is made l absorbed gas had been removed. I have found that such treatment does not remove absorbed gases and volatiles sufficiently to avoiddestruction during distillation. Oil, even when under a high vacuum, retains gases to such an extent that the gas pressure in the oil is many hundreds of times greater than the pressure ofthe gas above the oil surface. Thus I have found that on subjecting al.l fish Voil to degassing until a pressure of .001 mm. is reached, that if the oil is v sealed in a chamberunder this low pressure that the gases are given ofl' and soon destroy the Vacuum. De-

COnVengassing processes heretofore known were employed with -a view to removingl absorbedS gases which would otherwise be given off and hinder the distillation rate. For a material to be distilled in a molecular vacuum it is necessary only that the residual gas outside the oil' shall be in concentration .sufficiently low to give no hindrance to the distilling molecules. Even though the pressure of gas in the degassed oil was many hundreds of times that outsidev the oil no hindrance -to distillation took place unless the gas came out of the oil faster than the pumps could carry "it away. For this reason degassing in known4` manner was entirely satisfactory for the purpose in view. In those cases where the oxygen can react with the valuable' constituents of the oil; or the water. can catalyse its pyrolysis, it is necessary to degas the oil muchmore thoroughly than required for mere distillation.

The"rate at which gases are given off during degassing decreases exponentially with increase in thickness ofthe oil layer and also decreases at a high` rate with' increase of viscosity. 'I'hus it has been found .that oils can be subjected to high vacuum in layers l mm. thick at elevated temperatu'rss land yet retain an internal pressure of permanent gas hundreds of times higher than the vacuum to which they were exposed. Many passages through the vacuum are `necessary to bring .the internal and external pressures into equilibrium. While thorough degassingin this manner is possible over a prolonged period of time it..has been discovered that oils can be degassed rapidly and thoroughly if they are spun at high speeds in thin films by forces greater than gravity such as centrifugal action.

The'degassing treatment outlined above ena rougher distillation treatment, but substantially the same results can be accomplished if a heating period in the lower portion of the range disclosed is used with oil degassed. in the ordinary nianner. Thus if the high boiling vitamin D willf survive substantially unharmed for 30 secyonds at a certain temperature if thoroughly degassed, it will survive for about 15 seconds if only normally degassed. Therefore by' the rapid distillation, which constitutes the main subject of this invention, the vitamin can survive the dis- Y tillation treatment even with poor'degassing.

In order to enable a clearer understanding of my invention I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like numbers referto like parts, apparatus which enables thorough degassing and short period distillation.

Iiig.I l is a diagrammatic elevation partly in section of s. suitable degassing and distillation apparatus:

Fig'. 2 illustrates a sectional elevation of a preferred form 'of degassing apparatus:

Fig; 3 illustrates a sectional elevation of a preferred type of short period distillation apparatus e and:

Fig. '4 illustrates a `sectionalI elevation of a modification of the still illustrated in Fig. 3

Referring to Figure 1, reference numerals I, 2,

ables the vitamin content of the oil to withstand ands!- designate gas tight chambers connected in series by conduits i, 0 and 1. Each chamber being 'provided with conduits l and commun!- cating with vacuum pumps. (not shown); meralfdesignates s conduit provided with valve Il through which oil to be distilled is introduced into the system. Chambers I and l are provided 2,910,926 equipped with suitable electrical heating means as shown. Reference numeral I2 designates a cylindrical still casing provided with a gas tight top plate I3 mounted a cylindrical vaporizing column I5. Casing I2 is provided with conduits `20 a--d which connect to high vacuum pumps `(not shown). Column i5 is provided with a top plate 2| which in combination with the upper serrated lwall of I5 forms a shallow reservoir at the top of the vaporizing column. The vaporizing column is'provided with internal electrical heating units arranged in such a manner that different sections of the column -can be heated to different temperatures independently of the other sections.

' The column is provided with metal gauze collars 23 a-d, the lower serrated portions of which are in contact with the surface of the column and the upper portions of which are slightly greater in diameter, thus in conjunction with. the walls of the column, forming an annular trough with a serrated bottom portion. `Still casing i2 is provided with a conduit 25 through which undistilled residue is withdrawn and with concentric gutters 25 af-d provided with withdrawal conduits 25 L -42, the gutters being spaced on the walls of I2 at a point opposite the lowest portion of the various temperature zones on column I5. Conduit 21 serves to convey liquid to be distilled from'degasser 5 into the shallow reservoir at the top of column I5. A f

Referring to Figure 2 numeral 3| designates a circular plate upon is integrally mounted a cylindrical collar 32 and 'upon the upper portion a cylindrical reservoir 33 and an elongated bearing 3l. Numeral 35 desigf hates a cylindrical plateintegral with a cylinportion 40 and drical collar like section 35 and a sump v31 provided with a withdrawal conduit 35.

shaped partition'39 having a cylindrical center lip 5I supports a screen 5|a and is mounted upon and supported by the walls of section 36. Reference numerals 52-41 designate cylindrical sections mounted upon each other to form a cylindrical column. Since/each of these sections vis substantiallyldentical in design, a detailed description of section 52 only, will be given. Numeral 50'designates a cone shaped partition rigidly mounted upon the wall of section I2, the central portion 5| thereof being in the form of a cylinder.` Upon the upper side of cone 50 is mounted a cylinder of gauze wire 52 the lower e'dge Voi which is fastened tothe surface of 50 and the upperedge of which is integral with circular plate 53 having a circular centrally located opening 55. A conduit 11a integral with section 42 communicates with a vacuum pump (not shown).

Reference numeral 55 designates a shaft extending the length of the assembly and supported by bearings and 51, bearing 35 .being pro- 'vided with a stuffed gland 55 and an oil illled reservoir 59 toprevent entry of air into the apparatus. A conduit 50 conveys oil to be degassed into reservoir 55 from which it ows through conduit 5I., reservoir 55 and conduit 52 into the degassing system controlled by float valve 51. Upon shaft 55 is rigidly mounted a collar 55 which is integral with a circular plate 55, the collar extending through the circular opening 55' in plate g55, but in spaced relation to the latter. Numeral 55 designates a collar integral wlth'circular plate 55 which is rigidly mounted uponl shaft 55 and which hasa recessedportion 15 slightly largerA in diameter and base plate I5 upon which isv the lower portion of which `A conedistant -from the the rate of flow being 'tioned that contact between the two is avoided.

It is desirable in mounting partition 35 to provide a 'substantially gas tight joint between vthe annular portion 5| and the inside wall of section 35. Section 41 is then placed on top of section` 35 accurate centering being easily accomplished by providing a rabbeted joint which is provided with a gasket or smeared with a suitable sealing compound in order to make it gas tight.

The different sections and collar assemblies are assembled successivelyin the same manner, care being taken in eachease that baiiles 15 a-g are directly between the evacuation conduits 55 and 11 a-g and shaft 55. The entire assembly is securely held together by draw lbolts 5| mounted in holes around the periphery of plates 3| and 35.

Referring to Figure 3 reference numeral 55 designates a cylindrical still casing provided with an integral base4 55 and a removable' tcp plate 51 which ls kept in gas'tight contact with the upper edge of 55 by a gasket 55. The wall of casing 55 is provided with a large conduit 55 which connects with high vacuum pumps (not shown) and with two annular gutters 55 and 9| the latter draining into withdrawal conduits 52.and 93 respectively. A drive shaft 55 provided with a-pulley 55 extends the length of the still and is housed in, and supported by bearings |00` and III, the upper bearing |55 being provided with a packing gland and a small reservoir |02 illled with low vapor pressure oil in order to prevent entry of gas. Any oil leaking throughvthebearing falls onto a circular disc |53 and isv whirled into retaining cup |55 fastened upon the lower wallof'plate 51. A conically'shaped plate 05 is securely fastened to shaft 5I at |05 and serves to support and rotate cone shaped plates |01, |05, |55, Vand ||5 by motion transmitted fromv shaft 5l. The periphery of conical plate |01 is integral with the outside portion of plate |05 at the point indicated by numeral I. Cone shaped plate |55 surfaces of plates |05 and |01 and is rigidly held in that\position by welded spacers ||2 approximately perpendicular to the surfaces of the plates. The upper periphery of plate |05 does not extend to the outer curved portion ||5 of plate |01 and there is therefore an annular passage connecting the Vspace between plates |55 and |55 and the space between Aplates |01 and |55. The lower portion III of plate |05 extends downwardly through the opening formed by the ared .lip portion I I5 of plate |01 and dips into a body of low vapor pressure heating fluid |25 which is heated by exterior gas burner |2I. I An annular baille |22 prevents'extensive motion of liquid |25.

through which shaft 55 and conduit |25 protrude and is maintained substantially parallel to plate |55 by welded spacers |25 through which the motion of rotation is also transmitted. Plate is disposed between and equic v o Conical plate |55 has a centrally located hole 7 is maintained in the position shown and ro-- tated by force transmitted through welded spacers |25. A baille |25, integral with the wall oi!v v duced through conduit |23 onto the upper'surface of plate |05. It is seen from the description that the entire assembly of plates |01, |03, |00

and 0 is mounted upon and rotated by plate which is lsupported and rotated by shaft 0l.

The construction of vthe-apparatus shown in- Figure fi 'is substantially identical to that shown in Figure 3 except that plate |00 is` mounted `I upon shaft 34 and is provided with an inclined edge portion which is flared at the top |36 and is provided with annular raised portions |31 and |30. Conduit |29 empties onto the top `of plate |03 instead of thetop of plate |05'as shown in Figure 3. An additional annular trough |30 is shown on the wall of the still casing 05, which drains into conduit whch empties the liquid onto the top of plate |05. 'I'he mode of'mounting and rotating plates |01, |03, and ||0 is substanltially the same as that described in connection with Figure 3 as is also the location and arrangement of other parts not mentioned.

In operation employing the apparatus illus-- trated in Figure 1 vacuum pumps connected to conduits 0 and 20 are started and valve I0 is opened allowing asteady stream of material to be distilled, such as a fish oil, to flow into chamiiO ber I. Due to the low pressure the gas absorbed in lthe oil expands to such an extent that the oil v bursts or explodes into droplets, the gas being.

removed through the vacuum conduit 0a. The oil Vthen flows through trap 5 into chamber 2 which is maintained at a lower pressure and where a similar action takes place. The oil then flows through conduitl onto the warm column' Ila where it is sublectedto a still lower pressure in a slightlyheated condition. `It then flows throughA conduit 1 onto heated column .Ill down `which it nofws as athin nlm; the internal gas pressure of the oil being lowered Yto about that pressure used during molecular distillation. The oil then flows through conduit 21 onto the top of distilling column I5. In order to maintain chambers and 2 and 3 at different pressure conduits 5 and 3 are U shaped to maintain a bodyv of oil which acts as4 a trap and prevents passage of gas. No such provision is necessary with conduit 1 since the` pressure in chambers 3 andI 0' is so low that the resistance to gas flow or the'gaseous friction is so great'tl'iat diiferent pressures can exist in connected chambers without undesirable passage of sas. 1

The thoroughly degassed oil flowing from conduit 21 falls into the reservoir formed at the top ofcolumn I5 by plate 2|- andV overflows at the serrated edge flowing down the outside wall. of column 5 in a relatively thin film. The first portion ofthe column downto the first distributing ring 23a is heated to a temperature sumcient to remove vitamin A alcohol and if desired Y' `the`low `boiling vitamin D and therefore should be between about 110 and 160 C. The next section is'heated to about 165-190 at whichltern-v perature thebalance of low boiling. vitamin D.

4small amounts of-vitamin A in the ester form and traces of the lhigh boiling vitamin D dlstill. At this stage large amounts of gas and volatiles are given on and this section of the still should be provided with higher capacity pumps. The third section of the column is heated to about 195-215 C. at which temperature large amounts of vitamin A esters and the higherboiling vitamin D are recovered. The fourth section heated to 22T-260' C. serves to remove residual vitamins.

The last sectionlof the still can be heated to a higher temperature and the body of the oil distilled if desired.

Due to the construction of this gravity flow type of still the successive heating zones immediately follow one another on a single column so that the oil is not delayed in a heated state in passing from one distillation stage to another. The column is relatively short so that the heating period during passage over each individual heating unit is small- For practical operation the maximum length of the third heating unit (between 23h and 23e) is about, 12 inches and the other units are in proportion as shown. There is of course no limit to the diameter of the still and itL can be made larger to handle a greater volume of distilland. Due to the short heating period used this apparatus enables useful separation of the new substance, but it does not entirely avoid decompositionlor give as high a rate of distillation as the other 'forms disclosed-and I thereforeprefer to employ the other apparatus ilustrated` which 'enable more positive lcontrol and gives a faster distillation rate with shorter heating periods.

When employing the apparatus of Figure 3, oil to be distilled and in a degassed condition is admitted into the still ,through conduit |23, the

still having been evacuated to low pressure through conduits 09 ,nd |21. The shaft 94 is rotated and oil falling from conduit |20 onto plate 05 is whirled by centrifugal force to the outer periphery at |05,thrown into gutter 9| and removed through conduit 93. Plate |05 acts a.; 'a'. heated distilling surface and during the passage of the oil thereover in a very thin film itis heated and vitamins vaporized therefrom. Plate |09, preferably lo'cate'dat a distance from plate |05 of less` then the mean free path of molecules of residual gasin the distilling chamber, acts .as

a condensing 'surface and molecules vaporized l from plate |05 are condensed thereon. This `con .Y

densateis shot to the periphery by centrifugal force and thrown onto cone 0 from which-it is thrown into gutter 30 and removed through conduit 52. During rotation of the assembly heating liquid |20 is forced by centrifugal action, up the surface of cone lll, plate |03, and fills the space between plate |03 and |05. The fluid isA returned to the original heating fluid body through the channel formed between plates |01 and |03. A continuous circulation of a heating medium in contact with vaporizing plate |05 is thus accomplished. Radiation of heat from condensing surface |00 is increased by blackening the side farthest from the heated vaporizing surface. I

The apparatus of Figure 4 operates in substantially the same manner as that of Figure 3 except that .the condensing surface is positively cooled by circulating the oilto be distilled over its surface. 'Fresh degassed oil is led onto'the top of smesso, v

. plate |09 are thrown to the projecting lip |81 onto illand thence into gutter ll. Small amounts of condensate leaking past |31Y are thrown into gutter 9| from projection Ill. By circulating the incoming oil over :the upper surface of condensing element Il! the .temperature can be maintained at any desired point.- A Y' In operation employing the degassing appa-v ratus of Fig..2, oil to be distilled is admitted'into reservoir 33 through conduits 0I and Il. .Float valve 01 allows the oil to flow into conduit l2 at a predetermined rate dependent on the rate of introduction of the oil into conduit Il and also serves to seal the apparatus when the iiow is stopped. The oil falls from conduit 02 onto rotating disc 84 and is thrown by centrifugal. force against the walls of I2.' The entire apparatus is maintained under a vacuum by pumps connected to conduits I5 and 11 aa. 'Ihe rotationpf I4 causes the oil to form in a thin sheet. the'surface of which is rapidly renewed. resulting inA emcient emission of gases. As' the oil strikes the walls it'4 is broken into a spray or small droplets further increasing the rate of gas emission. The oil then'ilows along the vupper surface of partition l0, through screen l! and into 10, from which it is withdrawn andi-shot over the surface of rotating plate Thefllming and spraying action is repeated in eachv section of the degasser and the oil is then withdrawn through conduit Il in a thoroughly degassed cona dition and led toa high vacuum still.

Since large amounts of gas are given off in the first stages of the degasser it is desirable to'provide them with high capacity pumps. In the last stages relatively small volumes of gas are removed and pumps of lower capacity, but capable of reaching a lower pressure are used. In order to subject the oil to progressively decreasing pressure each stage is sealed from the others by the `oil inreservoirs Il of the elements I5, HJM, etc. Final pressures in the last stages should be less thanl mm. and preferably less than .l mm.,v such as between'.01 and .001 mm. If desired the degasser may be heated at any or all zones with egc-y ternal heating units. Since' large amounts of yoxygen are present in the first zones it is desirable when treating sh oils or oils containing vitamins to heat only the last zones lwherev the oxygen has been substantially removed. Temperatures below 1004such as about 60 C. are preferable and may increase with decrease 'in oxygen content. of the oil.

When employing the centrifugal degassereand stills illustrated it will be found that the optimum rate of rotation varies with the characteriof the material distilled such as thermal properties and viscosity and also with'the size of the apparatus and the temperamre of distillation.; speeds of 500 to 4000 R. P. M. have beenfound to be most `useful for 'all general purposes ,but it is to be understood that slower or higher speeds4 can be used within the scope of my invention.

. In order to further protect against oxidation at the high distillation temperatures, it is often' desirable to add an antoxldant to the Yoil More distillation and preferably before the degasaing treatment. Such antoxidants must have a high er .avidlty for oxygen than the vitamin which it -is to protect. A complete disclosure -ofthe mode of applying this expedient is set, forth in my application No. 46,957, filed October-28.11935. The

most effective are the hydroxy amino compounds zarine green distilling in maximum amount at 75 disclosed therein.

as a thin sheet, by the, centrifugal action.

where several fractions are to be removed sucsuch as between .005 and .0001, for instance,

.001 mm., are employed. Distances separating the distilling and condensing surfaces are preferably less than the mean free path of the molecules of residual gas at the pressure employed. This distance is substantially inversely proportional to the pressure. Distances of less' than l0 inches, such as between V4 and 6 inches have been found to be satisfactory for most purposes.

While I prefer to operateunder molecular distillation conditions I have found that the process described enables such a rapid rate of distillation that pseudo molecular conditions can be used, that is, distances of many'times the mean free path and pressures up to 1 or 2 mm. can be used, the vapors traveling to the condensing surface by convection and/or diffusion, the path between the surfaces being free and unobstructed as with vmolecular distillation. While such a. process is It is apparent that many variations and changes can be made in the above described apparatus to obtain similar results. Fbr instance instead of using` a conical revolving surface a disc shaped centrifugal vaporizing surface and similarly shaped condensing surface could be used. Also a revolving drum shaped surface upon which the dlstilland is spread in a thin film by rollers would accomplish practically Asimilar results. When using a disc centrifugal vaporizing periphery and the'heated oil shot between them, Also cessively several such stills may be connected in series, the distilland owing from one still to another where fractions are removed at progressively higher temperatures. Traveling bands or drums upon which the oil is spread in a 'thin film can also be used. All of such .variations 'and many others would accomplish quick passage 'through the still with rapid renewal of evaporatelement, condensers can be placed outside of its ing surface and short heating period and' I include all modifications giving such a result as being within the spirit and scope of `my invention.

Anyl natural animal'oil containing antirachitic u siderable value when .processing with a view to v their recovery.

The new antirachi'tic substance which I have VVisolated distills' under molecular conditions between 210 and 260 C. as compared with quini- 6 a 220 C. when employed as a distillation indicator in the manner described in my copending application No. 67.332, filed March 5, 1936. That it is,

-an entirely diiferent compoundfrom ca lciferol and from vitamin D heretofore recovered from ilshj oils is indicated by the fact that these two lsubstances distill .under molecular conditions in maximum amounts at about 14T-144 C. compared with di propyl diamino anthraduinone. disti'lling at 145 C. 'Ihis fact is further indicated by the lack of change of distillation temperature of vthese two substances after saponication. Saponincation of the new antirachitic substance converts itinto a material which distills'at the same temperature as the low boiling vitamin D, but which still retains antirachitic activity. `It

Vwould appear that the reasonable explanation of the above factsis that the new substance is composed of esters and the alkali treatment converted-them into-the low boiling, free alcohol form. however, I do not intend that my inventionbe restricted to that interpretation. Whether will distili,v or if a wide cut is taken, varying ,amounts oi' vitamin A esters will also be present.

Such a fraction can be substantially concentrated and much' off the vitamin A esters and the diluent oil eliminated by redistillation in the manner described. By separating narrow cuts or fractions,

especially in the range between 190 and200 G.. a highly potent concentrate of high boiling vita- Amin D containing relatively little vitamin A vester may be obtained.

What! claim is:

1. The process whichcomprises subjecting a ilsh oil to distillation at a pressure of less than approximately .11 while-it lain the form a thin rapidly agitated film, and condensing an anti-rachitic fraction distilling at between 1&0"

Aand 260 C. upon a surface located in close proximity to the distilling nlm', the oil 'beingy heated to the temperature at which this fraction distills for a period of less than about 2 minutes.

2. The process which comprises degassing a iish oil under a highvacuum at room temperature until gas evolution has substantially ceased, heating the oil to below 100 C., without raising the pressure, until'the oil is completely degassed; subjecting the oil to molecular distillation in the form of a thin film and separating a fraction having anti-rachitic activity which distills in maximum amounts at a temperaturev between about 185i CJ and 235 C., the oil being heated at this temperature for ,a period of less than 2l minutes.

3. The distillation process which comprises' heating a thin filmA of a vitamin containing iish `oil at a pressure of less than approximately .l

mm. to a temperatureof between about'180" and 260 C. for a period of less than about two minutes and condensing vapoized molecules upon a condensing surface separated from the heated densing surface located at a shortdistance fromv theheated film of oil and separated therefrom by substantially unobstructed space.

5. The process of preparing a vitamin concentrate from a fish oil containing vitamin which u Y comprises subjecting the'oil to short path distillation at a pressure of lessthan about 1mm.' andseparating a/vitamin fraction distilling at between 180? and 240 C., the distillation at that temperature being completed in less than about 1 minute.

' 6. The process of preparing .a vitamin concentrate from a sh oil containing vitamins. which comprises removing free fatty acids from the oil, subjecting the oil to short path distillal minute;

` KENNETH C. D. HICKMAN. 

